United-bad business or bad day?

[katbuad]

Went to DEN for a couple of days at the beginning of the week. Got out there on United ok, though the plane was full. Hubby came from Columbus on United on a full plane too. For the trip home, we were both lisited on a United to Nashville. We got to the airport in DEN way early (rental car return and security way easier than expected). Sat at the gate forever.

We witnessed 4 United flights (including our own) with some sever oversold seats situations. The gate personnel were offering free round trip tickets if 3-7 people (depending on which flight) would give up their seat. From my point of view, this seemed like a very poor business pattern.

Hubby mentioned that DEN was a big United hub, that United could easily bump and schedule passangers to the next flight, with so many flights. IMP, this is like bait and switch. We promise you one thing and give you something else when you come into the store.

I know that it is common to over sale some seats. It just seems 5-7 seats is extrem. They were not announcing why the over sale, ie equipment problems or weather problems. So does United do this all the time? Or was this just a bad day? Do other airlines have a reputation of this? Is it just at certian airports?

I know that I don't have a horse in the race. We are non rev'ing and standby means STANDBY.

Just an FYI. We left DEN an hour later than planned on a Delta flight (in First Class, very nice). The hoped for United flight was direct. The actual Delta flight had a connection in Cinnicinatti, which I was bumped from. Hubby went in the jump seat on the full plan in order to get home to the dogs. I arrived 3 hours later, tired and full of Starbucks.

[Kristie]

From what i understand, it's pretty common and actually profitable business practice to oversell up to 20 seats per flight. At least i know DAL will oversell up between 15 and 30 seats depending on type of flight and how many other similar flights are at that airport.

It's typical for 5-10 passengers to not show up for a flight which is why you saw 5-7 people getting "free" something. that just means everyone including the the folks who bought unavailable seats showed up for the flight.

the only thing i don't understand is how it's considered profitable.

[CLErocks]

CAL has been overbooking bad lately, and as a non-rev it makes me so mad!

[katbuad]

Just out of curiosity. . . if people don't volunteer to give up their seat, how do they decied who gets bumped off the plane?

[amelia]

United does this ALL the time. I've been non-reving on them on and off for 5 years. When they can oversell a flight, they will it seems. I guess it doesn't cost them all that much ask people to give up seats and then put them on another flight plus free tickets for later. I remember when I was an FA for a regional, during Chirstmas time (when pax had a million bags), we would kick passangers off the plane b/c of W&B issues before we would take bags off the plane. I was told it cost a lot more to ship lost or left behind bags for the passangers. I always thought that was kind of crazy.

Originally Posted by katbuad

Just out of curiosity. . . if people don't volunteer to give up their seat, how do they decied who gets bumped off the plane?

Here is what I have heard: If no one gives up thier seats, then the last few people to check in for the flight will be the one's to get bumped off the flight. This is why its always best to check in at home the night before if you can (if you have a pos. space ticket).

Did you have fun in Denver??